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Sunday, 18 February 2018

Having enjoyed a week's holiday, I had to head into work for an 0530 start this morning after very little sleep and I've now been up for getting on for 20 hours so forgive me if this week's entry isn't up to scratch.

I'm not a motoring fan, I don't even have a driving licence but even I could appreciate the fine pieces of engineering that were on display from vintage 1920s cars right through to top of the range contemporary models from McLaren, Jaguar and Lister. Heck, I even got to see Anthea Turner!

I also finally got round do donating blood platelets again after colds had ruled out my last two attempts - I was particularly motivated after learning of the death last week of young football fan Frankie Sherwood whose story I'd followed for a couple of years and who had received platelets to help him with his neuroblastoma treatment.

Saturday had been all about going to see some football but an inability to commit meant that come the day, half-decent tickets to see QPR play Bolton had skyrocketed to £38 and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much to watch two lower midtable Championship sides have a go at each other so I decided to go and watch my local non-league side Kensington Dragons instead.

They play at the Linford Christie Stadium on Wormwood Scrubs and I noticed they had a decent Middlesex County League game against Cricklewood Wanderers who'd had a decent run in the FA Vase.

It was weird walking to the 230pm kick-off flanked by fans going to QPR whose Loftus Road ground I had to pass on my way.

I cut a lonely figure at the Scrubs on Saturday afternoon

On arrival at the Scrubs I noticed to my dismay that the stadium was a hive of inactivity with the pitch looking pretty heavy and no goals set up.

I then peered into the distance and saw the two teams in action on one of the Scrubs' regular park pitches but I'd have needed football boots or wellies to make it across and I simply wasn't prepared. I had to tramp back home via Loftus Road again but this time the action was well underway and I had to listen to my fellow fans from outside as they enjoyed what ended up being a pretty comfortable 2-0 win.

Once again, there may be opportunities for me to see a game this week but there are obstacles that need to be removed before I can be certain.

Have a great week and enjoy your football.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the Champions League and Europa League and there's the EFL Cup Final too.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 19 FebruaryProfessional Development LeagueMillwall v Watford @1pm - there is also a derby between Crystal Palace and QPR at the Eagles' training ground but I've gone for this as it's being played at Dartford's ground which has fine facilities for spectators who are being allowed in for £5. Whether the Palace game is open to the public remains to be seen so check with the club before you travel

National League SouthWealdstone v Gloucester City @745pm - the early kick off at Dartford above means you could easily combine it with this non-league match if you've got the day off. With both sides needing points to further their ambitions at either end of the table, it should be far more competitive than the afternoon games
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Tuesday 20 FebruaryChampions LeagueChelsea v Barcelona @745pm - with the competition down to its last 16 sides, the Blues welcome one of the biggest clubs in the world who have won this title five times. Although they're the top club in Spain at the moment, they're not the super power they have been in recent years, something reflected by them being only third favourites to win the Champions League. Sadly, Chelsea are also way off their best and are not expected to make it to the next round

ChampionshipBrentford v Birmingham City @745pm - a run of three games without a win looked to have put paid to the Bees' play-off hopes but a comfortable victory at Sunderland on Saturday combined with three of the four teams immediately above them dropping points has put them back in contention. Birmingham, on the other hand, have been pretty poor this season and despite a three-game unbeaten run bringing them into February, they've lost another couple of games since and are looking vulnerable againMillwall v Sheffield Wednesday @745pm - aside from a now understandable blip at Rochdale in the FA Cup, the Lions are on a great run at the moment. Now six games unbeaten, thanks to a win at Birmingham on Saturday, Neil Harris's side continue to impress. Promoted to the second tier at the start of the season, the Bermondsey club are one of the smallest in the division and punching well above their weight. Currently 14 points clear of the relegation zone, another season in this division looks pretty much certain. The Owls, conversely, are one of the big boys of the Championship and were expected to do well this year but after a good start it's all gone a bit meh and they're now below Millwall in the table

League TwoBarnet v Carlisle United @8pm - last weekend the Bees stung promotion chasing Notts County and this weekend they took a point off title contenders Accrington - four points they never looked like getting prior to Graham Westley's arrival as manager. Sadly a midweek loss at fellow strugglers Yeovil was sandwiched in between meaning the north London club are still in dire trouble. Carlisle are a solid midtable side but they face a mammoth journey down from Cumbria and must be beaten

National LeagueBoreham Wood v Maidstone United @745pm - if Barnet do go down there is a very real possibility that they could be replaced by near neighbours Boreham Wood, something which would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago. In all honesty it still seems pretty unthinkable now - could we really see a club with average crowds of 699 make it into the EFL??? At the time of writing The Wood have won four of their last five games to leave them sitting snugly among the play-off places. As a former Football League side themselves and with crowds that dwarf those seen at Meadow Park, we should really be talking about Maidstone making a promotion push but they'll just be happy to stay up

London Senior Cup Quarter-FinalsDulwich Hamlet v Harrow Borough @745pm - with promotion very much the priority for Dulwich there could well be some squad rotation going on at Champion Hill. Consequently, admission has been cut and the crowd is likely to be somewhat lower than normal. Harrow haven't quite secured enough points to make them safe from the drop but could have enough to cause an upset if Steve Baker selects a competitive starting line-upMetropolitan Police v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - both of these sides usually take this competition very seriously with one or other of them featuring in the last four finals. The Met still have a good chance of making the play-offs while Tooting are fighting tooth and nail to avoid the drop - whoever sees it as a bigger priority will probably come out on top

Essex Senior LeagueWest Essex v Redbridge @745pm - if none of the above appeal, then maybe an east London derby will get you out of the house. I think I'm right in saying that the hosts made a fine start to the season and topped the league in the early stages. They've fallen away a bit since then but are still capable of bagging a place in the top five. Beginning on 28 October, the Motormen won 13 games on the trot to cement themselves at the top but that run has now ended. By a quirk of fixture fate, they ended up playing nearest rivals Great Wakering home and away in back-to-back games at the start of February but only gleaned one point and now they and FC Romania are only three points behind while Basildon in fourth could get even closer if they win their games in hand - Redbridge badly need to win here
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Wednesday 21 FebruaryMiddlesex Senior Cup Semi-FinalHendon v Barnet @745pm - I'm a big supporter of getting more of London's pro clubs to take part in county cup competitions like this one so credit to the Bees for entering this year. Barnet used to compete regularly and won the cup twice way back in the 1930s. In more recent times they've switched to similar competitions in Hertfordshire as it was a better geographical fit when they were playing at Underhill. However, now they're at The Hive they've made a return to Middlesex. On paper they should comfortably win this north London derby but they'll probably only field a development team and Hendon are a fine non-league side with one of the best records in the history of the cup (13 titles). Admission has also been reduced to £5 and there's an exhibition game of walking football before the match to keep you entertained

FA Women's Super League 2Millwall Lionesses v London Bees @745pm - after narrowly losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, the Lionesses return to league action with this derby on Wednesday night. Currently second to Doncaster by only a point, a win here against the struggling Bees could put them top

A bit further afield
Elsewhere on Wednesday two of London's biggest clubs are fielding U19 teams in the Uefa Youth League. Tottenham Hotspur entertain Monaco at Stevenage's ground at lunchtime before Chelsea take on Feyenoord at Aldershot Town in the evening. Both grounds are outside London but easy to get to by train and you can pay on arrival
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Thursday 22 FebruaryEuropa LeagueArsenal v Ostersunds FK @805pm - having won the opening leg in Sweden 3-0, progress into the last 16 looks like a formality for the Gunners. However, with Sunday's EFL Cup Final looming, Arsene Wenger will almost certainly tinker with his starting line-up and the visitors might have a slim chance of forcing their way back in

A bit further afield
Your alternative option on Thursday night can be found on the northern fringes of London where Tottenham Hotspur Ladies play Watford Ladies in a derby at Cheshunt FC

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Friday 23 February

FA Women's Super League 1

Arsenal v Everton @730pm - with the top two spots pretty much sewn up already, the Gunners need to make sure of pipping Liverpool to third place. On Friday they welcome the Reds' big rivals to Meadow Park for a match they should win

A bit further afield
If only men's football will do then head up once again to the northern outskirts of the capital to see Woodford Town 2017 in Essex Senior League action against Takeley. The north-east London club are currently groundsharing at Goffs Lane, home of FC Broxbourne Borough

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Saturday 24 FebruaryPremier League

Watford v Everton @530pm - there's only one Premier League game in London this weekend and it's up at Vicarage Road. Although in midtable, neither are quite out of the woods when it comes to avoiding relegation so they could both do with a win. When I last checked, only a handful of tickets were still available so don't delay buying one if you want to go

ChampionshipFulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers @530pm - although playing at the level below, this game is arguably far more important than the one above and could be far more entertaining. The Cottagers are the team to watch in the Championship at the moment with five wins and a draw from their last six putting them top of the form table and in the top five overall. Last Saturday they saw off the then even hotter Aston Villa and now they welcome the leaders for another huge match. Wolves' form has dipped slightly of late so it should be really interesting to see what happens - tickets are availableQueens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest @3pm - despite a lot of moaning and groaning by QPR fans over the last couple of months, things really aren't that bad. With three wins from the last six, midtable safety is almost assured. Although just behind QPR in the table, Forest's form is worrying and a home win should be the order of the day. However, the visitors are one of Rangers' bogey teams and history suggests it could go either way

League OneCharlton Athletic v Shrewsbury Town @3pm - the deal of the day is to be found at The Valley where all tickets are being sold at a flat rate of £5. Usually when clubs do this it's for matches against unglamorous opponents who no-one really wants to watch but that's definitely not the case here as Charlton are currently sixth and the Shrews are top so it's a really important game

Premier League International CupArsenal U23 v Dinamo Zagreb II @2pm - in a slightly strange bit of scheduling, the Gunners' youngsters welcome Croatian opponents to Boreham Wood for this knockout tie. Usually U23 games at Meadow Park are free entry but check before you travel

FA Trophy Quarter-Finals - this competition for sides in the fifth to eighth tiers of the English system is now down to its last eight. With £10,000 prize money up for grabs for each of the winners and a place in the final at Wembley in May now within touching distance, things are getting really serious.Bromley v Spennymoor Town @3pm - the Ravens are one of three London clubs to have made it this far so the chance of one of our local teams getting to Wembley is good. They are also doing well in the league and are the highest ranked club left in the Trophy so it will be interesting to see which competition they prioritise. On paper they should be too strong for Spennymoor who play a level below and face a long journey down from County Durham. They should not be underestimated though as they've enjoyed three promotions since winning the FA Vase five years ago and are well positioned to go up again this yearLeyton Orient v Gateshead @3pm - in terms of size and average attendance, the O's are the biggest club left in. After a terrible start to life in non-league football, they've started to regroup under new boss Justin Edinburgh and are gradually climbing the table. They have also done really well to get this far in the Trophy and should fancy themselves against another side with a long journey down from the north east(The other remaining London club are Wealdstone and they're playing away at Billericay Town. The Essex club are based a short journey outside London so this is also a very decent option if you fancy visiting a new ground)National LeagueSutton United v Guiseley @3pm - the U's are London's main challengers for the NL title. Currently in fifth, five points behind leaders Macclesfield, they've still got a great chance of getting promoted. A win is almost a certainty against Guiseley who have miraculously dodged relegation in recent seasons and are rooted to the bottom again after seven straight defeats

National League SouthDartford v Truro City @3pm - the Darts held on to top spot for another week after winning at Wealdstone on Saturday but nearest rivals Havant & Waterlooville still have the games in hand to sweep past them should they win them. Truro are also among the leading pack and had a spell at the top themselves earlier in the season so it could be challenging afternoon

Bostik League Premier DivisionWingate & Finchley v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - a north versus south London clash between sides hoping to make it up via the play-offs. It's also a bit of a David and Goliath clash as W&F look to get one over on the giants of the division. They pulled off a shock win at Champion Hill earlier in the season so should be more than capable of doing it again

Evo-Stik League East DivisionHayes & Yeading United v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @3pm - the hosts strode into the top three with victory at Cambridge City on Saturday with former QPR midfielder Scott Donnelly among the scorers. Next up are local rivals Ashford - if Hayes win they could end the day six points off top spot

Southern Counties East League Premier DivisionCroydon v Beckenham Town @3pm - the visitors are having their best season in years and are currently joint top with Sevenoaks. Sadly they've played three games more than their rivals so a win in this local derby is almost essential

Combined Counties League First DivisionCobham v AC London @3pm - the top three are eligible for promotion come the end of the season subject to having good enough grounds and with both of these sides in the top six, they've got a decent chance. Cobham have several games in hand which if won will put them third
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Sunday 25 FebruaryEFL Cup FinalArsenal v Manchester City @430pm - the first major piece of domestic silverware comes up for grabs on Sunday. Despite all the moaners, Arsene Wenger has delivered yet another cup final appearance for the Gunners' fans. Given Manchester City's electric performances this season, the north London club will do extremely well to win it but few expected them to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup last May. Despite having bigger priorities than Arsenal, City usually treat this competition with great respect and have won two of the last four finals - it's theirs to lose

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Sunday, 11 February 2018

I've been on a week of late shifts so my chances of seeing some live football were very slim indeed.

Instead my time has been taken up preparing for and hosting my five-year-old's birthday party (some regular readers may remember her being born) and getting in a training run for the Big Half in about three weeks time - it took me on an 18km route along the Thames to Brentford and back but saw me pick up yet another calf injury so I've been resting up for the last five days wondering whether or not I should train again before the race or how much.

On the football front more announcements were made regarding the Conifa World Football Cup which will be taking place here in London from 31 May-9 June.

Last week we discovered Sutton United would be one of the host venues but since then it has been revealed that Bromley and Enfield Town have been added to the list as well.

With north and south London well covered, hopefully we'll see some clubs in the east and west too - talks are said to have taken place with both QPR and Charlton but no announcements have yet been made.

The biggest event of the week from a London perspective must have been the North London Derby which Spurs won 1-0. Most Arsenal fans I know lost hope when the starting line-up was announced and their dreams of reaching the top four now look all but over.

With the match taking place at Wembley, the chances of getting a ticket greatly increased. Did you get one? How did it compare to a derby at White Hart Lane? How did the bigger venue and bigger crowd affect the intensity? I'd like to hear your views.

I've got a week off for half-term but will be up in Yorkshire for a midweek mini-break on Tuesday and Wednesday so I'm unlikely to catch any football then but there is a good chance on Saturday.

QPR v Bolton and Metropolitan Police v Harrow Borough are the two most obvious options for me. Tickets for the former should be easy to get hold of and relatively cheap on Twickets while I'm tempted to go to the latter as I've never been to Imber Court and really should tick it off my list.

Also this week if you're a QPR fan, Polish or ideally both then you might be interested in going to a live Q&A with Pawel Wszolek who plays for the R's and Poland. If you go you will also qualify to buy a ticket for QPR's forthcoming home match against Sunderland for only £5!

The event is taking place at 330pm on Tuesday 13 February at the Polish Social and Cultural Association in Hammersmith and entry is free although you must reserve a place in advance. As someone who has been to the centre's cafe, I can vouch that they do great cakes! Thanks to TLFG reader Colin W for the tip off.

Lastly this week I'd like to give a big thank you to Wayne C from the USA and Christer S from Sweden who gave very generously to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - it's very very much appreciated.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 70 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the EFL and the next round of the FA Cup.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 12 FebruaryPremier LeagueChelsea v West Bromwich Albion @8pm - rocked by back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Watford, Antonio Conte and the Blues face another potential humiliation as the Baggies pay a visit to Stamford Bridge. Bottom of the league and with only three wins all season, Alan Pardew's side should be cannon fodder for a side of Chelsea's calibre but given their current form who knows???

Premier League Cup
There are two games in this U23 competition over the course of the day meaning you could comfortably attend both. Charlton Athletic open proceedings with a game against Stoke City at 2pm at Greenwich Borough's ground before Watford take on Blackburn Rovers at Wealdstone at 7pm. Please check all details with the respective clubs before you travel as they can change at short notice

Hertfordshire Senior Cup Semi-FinalBoreham Wood v Kings Langley @745pm - the best non-league option of the night is to be found at Meadow Park where five-times former champions Boreham Wood should start as strong favourites against a local rival who play two levels below them. It's unlikely the hosts will field a full-strength side and adult admission has been cut from £18 to £10 accordingly

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Tuesday 13 FebruaryLeague OneCharlton Athletic v Bradford City @745pm - the match of the night takes place at The Valley where two of the biggest clubs in the division go head-to-head. Both former Premier League clubs are firmly in the hunt for a play-off place but Bradford's form has dropped off worryingly in recent weeks. The Addicks won the reverse fixture 1-0 and will feel hopeful of completing a double here

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-FinalWealdstone v Staines Town @745pm - with 11 wins from 21 appearances in the final, the Stones have an impressive history in this competition. Having seen off big rivals Hampton & Richmond in the previous round, they should fancy their chances against the Swans who play a level below and only just scraped past Uxbridge on penalties in the last round

Bostik League Premier DivisionHendon v Leiston @745pm - with only one win from six league games since the start of the year, 2018 hasn't been particularly kind to the Greens. However, they are still very much in touch with the top five and should return to it with a win here. Leiston are only a few points behind so it's likely to be a challenging game. Aside from anything else, Hendon are running a pre-Valentine's Day promotion of free entry for your partner so bring 'em along

Evo-Stik League East DivisionEgham Town v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - from a TLFG perspective the Sarnies have been the team to watch in this division over the last couple of years but having twice missed out in the play-offs, their chance to go up seems to have been missed. Stuck in the lower midtable doldrums, Egham won't be going anywhere this year. Hayes & Yeading, however, are strongly in contention for a top-five finish and could conceivably have an outside shot at the title. If they win here, it will be their ninth in 10 games

Spartan South Midlands League Premier DivisionCockfosters v Hadley @745pm - there was a lot of talk about the North London Derby over the weekend - well this is another one. Little is riding on this in terms of the league but local bragging rights are up for grabs for these two clubs from either side of Barnet

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1Harefield United v Southall @745pm - head down to Preston Park on Tuesday if you want to see local-side-in-exile Southall who arrive in Harefield as the division's top club. Playing their home games all the way out at Burnham clearly hasn't adversely affected the visitors who are having their best season for years

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Wednesday 14 FebruaryCombined Counties League Premier DivisionBalham v Horley Town @745pm - with the top four sides so much better than everyone else, this midtable clash in the middle of February already has the look of a dead rubber about it even when you consider that the hosts have five or six games in hand on most of those above them. This match could play a crucial part in determining who finishes fifth which is pretty much the best either of these sides can hope for
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Friday 16 FebruaryFA Cup Fifth RoundChelsea v Hull City @8pm - with the FA Cup down to its last 16 teams things are starting to get serious. Out of contention in the league and also out of the EFL Cup, this is the Blues' one chance of domestic silverware this season so you'd hope they'd field a strong team to get the job done. Hull got relegated from the Premier League last season and have had a terrible time in the Championship with Saturday's win at Nottingham Forest lifting them out of the bottom three in what is a tight relegation fight between at least six clubs, five of which were in the Premier League at some point. The Tigers are also winless in 15 against Chelsea in all competitions and have to go way back to 1988 to find their last one. This match also represents your only chance of seeing a Premier League team in action this weekend as all our other local sides have been eliminated already or are playing away - thankfully tickets are on sale to non-members for a not unreasonable £30

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Saturday 17 February

Championship

Fulham v Aston Villa @3pm - the match of the day on Saturday should be this clash between two promotion contenders at Craven Cottage. With four wins and a draw and five wins on the bounce respectively, these two are also currently top of the division's form table so it should be a cracker. With Villa among the biggest sides in the country, let alone the division, a decent crowd is expected for what could be a thrilling showdown. A few tickets are still available to non-members but don't hang aroundQueens Park Rangers v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - a couple of miles up the road in Shepherd's Bush we have a far less enticing fixture between two sides looking to make sure of avoiding the drop. QPR are eight points clear of the relegation zone so should be alright but the Trotters are much closer to the trap door and could end the day in the bottom three if they lose here. If you are keen to go to this, check the Twickets re-sale website (fully endorsed by QPR - you pick your ticket from the box office) which should see you be able pick up a ticket for below face value

League OneAFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers @3pm - after suffering morale-crushing defeats to fellow strugglers Bury and Northampton, hopes of a Dons renaissance are starting to fade. Next up are midtable Rovers who despite being down in 11th still have a chance of challenging for a place in the top six. The hosts managed to win the reverse fixture in Bristol back in November so this should give them some belief

League TwoBarnet v Accrington Stanley @3pm - the Bees fightback is on after the division's bottom club recorded a shock 1-0 win over high flying Notts County on Saturday. After an important game at Yeovil in midweek, Graham Westley's side return to The Hive to face the team currently in second. It's going to be another tough ask but who knows?

National LeagueSutton United v Wrexham @3pm - with just eight points separating the top nine clubs, any game between teams in that group is going to be important. At the time of writing, Sutton are fifth and Wrexham third. With the U's averaging crowds of over 2,000 and Wrexham over double that, we could see a very large attendance indeedBoreham Wood v Gateshead @3pm - in the division's other game, The Wood are still well in the hunt for honours themselves. With only one league defeat since the start of the year they should be confident of beating their north-eastern opponents but mindful of the fact that they were recently beaten by them in the FA Trophy

National League SouthWealdstone v Dartford @3pm - the Stones' long journey down to Cornwall to play Truro on Saturday saw them rewarded with an important victory which extended their winning run to three games and closed the gap on the play-off places to five points. Here they welcome the long term league leaders who seem to have been top forever despite another tight title race. Sadly for the Darts you feel that their tenure at the top could be coming to an end. With two defeats on the trot and the two below them both having games in hand, their current two-point lead looks pretty flimsy. In essence, they badly need to win here

Bostik League Premier DivisionDulwich Hamlet v Enfield Town @3pm - the Hamlet had their game at Lowestoft postponed on Saturday meaning they missed the chance to return to the top after Billericay only managed to draw at Met Police. Their next home game is against the Towners who have been up among the play-off places with Dulwich in recent seasons but have failed to fire this time round and are way down in 18th. Despite this, their support has held up reasonably well and you'd like to think a crowd of at least 1,500 will be present

Bostik League South DivisionCray Wanderers v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - two former Premier Division sides do battle to get back up after several years away from the league's top flight. Cray beat Ramsgate on Saturday to go top and take full advantage of title rivals Lewes' postponement. Like some of those mentioned above, this division is also witnessing a very exciting title race with only six points between the top six clubs. Carshalton are part of that leading pack so this game has quite a bit riding on it

Combined Counties League Premier DivisionCB Hounslow United v Hanworth Villa @3pm - in terms of the league this isn't a hugely important game but it is a derby and if you're a groundhopper it gives you a chance to check out the hosts' new ground which is receiving rave reviews

Essex Senior LeagueWadham Lodge v Waltham Forest @3pm - the Walthamstow derby between two sides who groundshare. Neither side is having a great season but a derby's a derby so it should be worth a watch

Southern Counties East League Premier DivisionBeckenham Town v Tunbridge Wells @3pm - the Becks have made solid progress on the pitch this season and are challenging hard for the title, so much so that a hefty win in this game against relegation threatened opponents could put them top

Combined Counties League Division 1Raynes Park Vale v Worcester Park @3pm - it's derby day in SW20 as RPV welcome near neighbours and title favourites Worcester Park. Although down in eighth, the hosts could conceivably begin a promotion push with a win here, especially when you consider the visitors can't be promoted because their ground isn't up to scratch

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Sunday 18 FebruaryWomen's FA Cup Fifth Round

Arsenal v Millwall Lionesses @2pm - there are several women's games on Sunday but this one is my top pick as it's a derby. The Gunners play a division above the Lionesses so should start as strong favouritesChelsea v Doncaster Rovers Belles @2pm - in terms of quality then this might actually be a better watch as it pits the team who are second in the country against the team who are top of the division below

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Aside from that, Conifa announced who will be playing in the opening group games of the World Football Cup and where.

National League side Sutton United will play host to the opening two games on 31 May as Ellan Vannin (aka the Isle of Man) take on Cascadia (which is basically the area of North America around Seattle and Vancouver) before Padania (northern Italy) face Matabeleland (western Zimbabwe) later in the day.

Tickets go on sale on Monday and will cost from £10 - presumably for a doubleheader but that will need confirmation.

As I understand it, the next host venue and set of fixtures will be announced on Tuesday.

Aside from some great results for a few of our local Premier League and EFL sides this weekend it was also a big few days in FA Trophy and FA Vase.

Sadly we don't have any local interest in the Vase but I'm pleased to say that Leyton Orient and Wealdstone both made it through to the quarter-finals. Bromley might also join them but they have to get through a replay with Workington on Tuesday first.

Don't forget that tickets for Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on 20 May where the finals of both these competitions are played back-to-back are on sale now.

Regular readers might remember a couple of weeks ago this blog featured coverage of a match at the small stadium next to West Ham's ground which drew in quite a few groundhoppers.

I'm pleased to report that as of next season, Essex Senior League side Hackney Wick will be moving there so there'll be plenty more chances to pay it a visit.

Lastly, a very big thanks to Simon K from London who became the latest person to donate to TLFG's coffee drinking fund - it's hugely appreciated and keeps me going so cheers!

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big derbies in the Premier League and some huge matches in the National League.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 5 FebruaryPremier LeagueWatford v Chelsea @8pm - the week gets underway with a derby at Vicarage Road. The Hornets are badly out of form at the moment and need to get something from this game. Chelsea come into this match on the back of their humbling 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth so boss Antonio Conte will be looking for a strong response

Premier League 2Arsenal v Everton @7pm - there are a number of U23 games on Monday but this game between two of the top five sides in the country is the standout fixture. The match is being played at Boreham Wood's ground - as with all youth fixtures, please make sure you check all the details before you travel as venues and kick-off times can change at short notice

Essex Senior LeagueTower Hamlets v Basildon United @745pm - the best non-league option is to be found at the Mile End Stadium where the hosts welcome the title-chasing Bees

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Tuesday 6 FebruaryFA Trophy Third Round ReplayBromley v Workington AFC @745pm - with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs, a trip to Wembley in getting close for both teams. Although playing two divisions below their opponents, Workington gave a spirited display against Bromley on Saturday but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Whether they have enough to beat them in the replay remains to be seen - the 650-mile round trip on a Tuesday night probably won't help

Bostik League Premier DivisionWingate & Finchley v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - with the hosts pushing for a play-off place and the Terrors desperate to avoid the drop, this game is of equal importance at either end of the table

London Senior Cup Quarter-FinalDulwich Hamlet v Harrow Borough @745pm - despite being one of the biggest sides in the competition and having won it five times, Dulwich haven't made the final since 2004. Currently the highest ranked side left in the competition, they should start as favourites here. However, they are likely to rest a few players and this would seem to be reflected in the admission price which has been cut to £6 for adults. Harrow are in the same division as Dulwich but are a much smaller club and have never made the final

Essex Senior LeagueRedbridge v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm - the Motormen had another game postponed on Saturday but their nearest rivals failed to take advantage. Great Wakering won at Sporting Bengal to stay fourth but crucially they closed the gap on the leading trio. With a game in hand as well, a win here could put them firmly in contention

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Wednesday 7 FebruaryFA Cup Fourth Round ReplayTottenham Hotspur v Newport County @745pm - Spurs should have seen off their League Two opponents at the first attempt but could only manage a 1-1 draw last weekend. Given the Premier League title is beyond them then I'd hope they'll go for it this time and make sure of their place in the next round. Tickets for this match are also only £10 or £15 depending on where you sit

Bostik League South DivisionThamesmead Town v VCD Athletic @745pm - both sides are in midtable so there's not a huge amount riding on it but with the pressure off, it could be a cracker

London Senior Cup Quarter-FinalCray Valley PM v Croydon @745pm - CVPM shocked a number of bigger clubs to win the cup last year and continue the defence of their title against a fellow ninth-tier side
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Friday 9 FebruaryChampionshipMillwall v Cardiff City @745pm - get the weekend underway with this intriguing looking match in the second tier as the Lions welcome the Bluebirds from Wales. Although 16 points apart in the table, when it comes to current form these two are neck-and-neck. With two of the fieriest sets of supporters in the division, it could get lively although the Friday night scheduling for TV could well see the attendance hit

Professional Development LeagueWatford v Coventry City @2pm - earlier in the day we have an U23 game which is currently scheduled to be played at Watford's training ground but check all the details before you travel

Combined Counties League Premier DivisionSutton Common Rovers v Colliers Wood United @745pm - if neither of the above take your fancy, there's also a decent ninth-tier match between two south London clubs at Gander Green Lane. With leaders Westfield looking increasingly uncatchable, SCR are very much in the race to finish as runners-up

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Saturday 10 February

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @1230pm - without question the match of the week is this - the second North London Derby of the season. Taking place at Wembley, a huge crowd of 80,000+ is expected for what will hopefully be a great advert for the Premier League. Spurs are really starting to impress at their temporary home with Everton and Manchester United defeated with relative ease in recent games. The Gunners have been shaky this season but with the likes of Sanchez, Giroud and Walcott out and Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan in during the transfer window, the squad has been significantly freshened up. The results were instant with both new signings making their mark during a 5-1 thrashing of Everton on Saturday. Historically Arsenal have dominated the north London football landscape and they won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in November. With three of the last five games ending in a draw, I think we'll get another one here. As a side issue, the early kick-off should make it just about possible to combine this with another game - Barnet and Hendon would seem the best optionsWest Ham United v Watford @3pm - with tickets all but impossible to get for the match above, there are still quite a few available for this via the Hammers' re-sale site. A derby in its own right too and with both sides fighting to avoid the drop, this should be well worth a watch. As mentioned above, Watford are in terrible form but they did beat West Ham 2-0 earlier in the season so should have some belief in turning things around

ChampionshipBrentford v Preston North End @3pm - sitting just outside the play-off places, PNE are one of the teams the Bees simply have to beat if they are to mount a promotion challenge themselves. Things were looking promising for Dean Smith's side until back-to-back defeats left them eight points behind the top six. However, Brentford have an absolutely superb record against Preston winning eight, drawing one and losing just one of their last 10 games against them (home and away) with the last game at Deepdale ending in a 3-2 win - more of the same please

League OneAFC Wimbledon v Northampton Town @3pm - with three wins and a draw, January was an excellent month for the Dons who started to push away from the bottom four. Sadly, February began with defeat at Rotherham and defeat here to fellow strugglers Northampton could see them slide right back into the bottom four

League TwoBarnet v Notts County @3pm - the appointment of new manager Graham Westley in mid-January halted the run of defeats but the draws with Lincoln and Cheltenham appear to have been but a brief respite for the Bees. On Saturday they lost at Mansfield to stay rooted to the bottom and with promotion chasing Notts County next to visit, it's likely to stay that way

National LeagueLeyton Orient v Tranmere Rovers @3pm - two of the biggest clubs in non-league football meet at Brisbane Road for a match that could draw a bigger crowd than some of the games in League One. Both sides have seen far better days and it's still a shock to see either playing at this level. The O's made it through to the FA Trophy quarter-finals on Saturday after winning a thriller at Dover and are well on course to make it to Wembley. Tranmere's focus is more on the league which they could easily win - with only six points separating the top eight teams, it's anyone's!Bromley v Maidstone United @3pm - the hosts are among the title-chasing pack and could edge into the top five if they win here. Although Maidstone will more than likely end up in midtable, they too are one of the biggest sides in the division and there should be a sizeable crowd for this too as it's a Kent derbyDagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot Town @530pm - an absolute barnstormer of day in the National League concludes with this TV game at Victoria Road where the Daggers welcome another one of the title contenders. Although not a derby as such, Aldershot is close to London so a significant number of away fans should be expected to travel. Also, the late kick-off should enable you to combine this game with one of the earlier kick-offs in the Bostik League at either AFC Hornchurch or Barking

National League SouthDartford v Chelmsford City @3pm - despite intense competition in this division too, the Darts have managed to keep themselves at the top for quite a while now. Although they got stuffed at St Albans on Saturday, nearest rivals Hampton & Richmond also lost to Bath meaning they stayed three points clear. Chelmsford were contenders themselves but a poor run has seen them drop to eighth - they should still be tough opponents though

Bostik League Premier DivisionMetropolitan Police v Billericay Town @3pm - the Met earned an excellent point at title-chasing Dulwich on Saturday. The result ensured leaders Billericay, who were playing in the FA Trophy, remained top. The big-spending Essex club are scoring an average of three goals a game this season and will start as overwhelming favourites at Imber Court

Bostik League North DivisionAFC Hornchurch v Haringey Borough @3pm - the Urchins took another big stride towards the title with a 3-0 win at Hertford on Saturday. The result leaves them 13 points clear with 13 games to go - mathematically they could still blow it but given their current form it seems highly unlikely. Haringey beat Brentwood 1-0 to keep their place in the top seven and their promotion hopes alive

Essex Senior LeagueRedbridge v Basildon United @3pm - depending on midweek results these two could be the top two in the league by Saturday. It's possible that a win for Basildon here could see them end the day only a point behind the Motormen

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Sunday 11 FebruaryFA Women's Super League 1

Arsenal v Yeovil Town @2pm - currently fourth but miles off title pace, a bit like the men's team, the Gunners welcome the division's bottom club who have lost all seven of their matches this season

A bit further afield
There are several women's games on in London on Sunday but if that's not for you there are a couple of other matches you might want to consider within 70 miles of London. First off in the Premier League there is the big game between Southampton and Liverpool at 430pm. Tickets were still available when I last looked but a previous purchasing history with the Saints was a requirement. A more realistic option is the 1pm kick-off in the Evo-Stik League East Division between AFC Dunstable and Hartley Wintney - both are in the top four so it should be good

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Sunday, 28 January 2018

As we come to the end of the another month, it's good to see the days getting longer and whole Saturday afternoon matches being played in daylight.

The approach of summer brings promise of the quadrennial* football feast that is the World Cup and to get us in the mood we now effectively have a mini version of the tournament taking place on one day at the end of March!

I'm not talking about the eagerly anticipated Conifa World Football Cup at the end of May but the group of friendlies that have so far been announced for 27 March.

Top billing, unsurprisingly, goes to England v Italy at Wembley, last week we brought news of Australia v Colombia at Craven Cottage and now we've also learned of Nigeria v Serbia at The Hive (thanks to Niels VM for the tip-off).

Ironically of the teams above, it is Italy - the third most successful team in World Cup history - who are the only ones not going to Russia for this year's tournament.

It's a shame the games are taking place on the same day at the same time as it would be nice to have seen at least a couple of them. So which one will you pick?

In other news, many congratulations are due to Arsenal for edging past Chelsea into the EFL Cup Final at Wembley next month.

Last week I predicted they'd probably have the edge and I backed this up by taking part in a free-to-enter Facebook competition run by my local Turkish takeaway to predict the exact score. I went with 2-1 and won a £25 online voucher. Yum!

I also travelled down to the West Country on Saturday to watch QPR take on Championship side-of-the-moment Bristol City.

After their impressive EFL Cup exploits which saw them beat Manchester United and then narrowly lose to Manchester City over two legs in the semi-final, I wasn't expecting all that much.

Ashton Gate has been hugely developed since I last went there seven or eight years ago and would more than hold its own in the Premier League.

The stewards and staff are reputed to be among the friendliest and most helpful in the country and I definitely found that to be the case - more on that later.

Probably the only drawback is its distance from the station and town centre but there are shuttle buses and taxis and at about 2.5 miles it is possible to walk if you arrive in good time.

The first half an hour went well enough with our defence soaking up most of what came its way fairly comfortably.

Then shortly after the half hour City had a man sent off for a rash tackle and the Rangers faithful started to get excited.

Sadly, and not for the first time, it didn't work out like that with the hosts scoring from a corner right on half-time and then nicking another on the counter midway through the second half after surviving a concerted spell of pressure.

QPR did keep pushing but shots on target were few and far between and the match ended 2-0 amid heavy swirling drizzle.

As a few of us loitered around outside waiting for friends and chewing over the debacle, one of the catering staff appeared carrying a tray heaped high with warm unsold pasties and encouraged us to fill our boots, improving the mood markedly - so thanks very much to the lady in question.

Looking ahead to 24 February, Charlton Athletic are running their very popular 'Football For A Fiver' promotion where all adult tickets are just £5. Interestingly they've picked the home game against title contenders Shrewsbury Town who recently took West Ham United to a replay in the FA Cup so it should be a good game.

Lastly, this weekend sees the next rounds of the FA Trophy and FA Vase. Don't forget that tickets for Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on 20 May where the finals of both these competitions are played back-to-back are also on sale now.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include the return of the Premier League and the next round of the FA Trophy.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 29 JanuaryProfessional Development League
There are a couple of U23 games on Monday afternoon with Charlton Athletic and Watford both playing at 'home'. The Addicks' match against Bristol City is being played at Greenwich Borough's ground so I'd recommend that as facilities for spectators will be a lot better than those at the Hornets' training ground

Bostik League North DivisionHaringey Borough v Tilbury @745pm - the best of the day's non-league action should be found at Coles Park where the hosts will look to win and keep up with their fellow play-off contenders

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Tuesday 30 JanuaryPremier LeagueWest Ham United v Crystal Palace @745pm - there's a full midweek programme of Premier League games this week with this fine looking London derby dominating proceedings on Tuesday night. Both sides have climbed to what appear to be fairly healthy midtable positions but with only six points separating the teams in 10th and 20th, they're both very much still in the battle to avoid relegation so a win will be valuable for both. If you want to go, there are still quite a few tickets available via the club's resale scheme

ChampionshipMillwall v Derby County @745pm - over the river in Bermondsey there's an intriguing clash between the Lions and promotion contenders Derby. The Rams are on a fantastic nine game unbeaten run and have climbed to second as a result. Part of this streak saw a 3-0 win over Millwall just before Christmas so they'll start as favourites against their midtable opponents

FriendlyBrentford B v Bristol Rovers U23 @1pm - it's possible to see two games in one day if you combine this match with one of the later evening kick-offs. This game will take place at Brentford's training ground - the public are usually admitted but double check all the details before you travel

Bostik League Premier DivisionHendon v Leatherhead @745pm - the top non-league game of the night sees two play-off hopefuls meet at Silver Jubilee Park. Although currently down in seventh and 10th respectively, both have games in hand on most of those above them so could climb the table considerably

Essex Senior LeagueRedbridge v Stansted @745pm - the Motormen took full advantage of their nearest rivals not playing on Saturday with a 4-1 win at Waltham Forest to go six points clear at the top. If FC Romania lose at Barkingside on Monday then Redbridge will go nine points clear with a victory here
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Wednesday 31 JanuaryPremier LeagueTottenham Hotspur v Manchester United @8pm - the match of the week is this clash of the Titans at Wembley. Worthy of any cup final line-up, this relatively humble league game is pretty much sold out as you would expect. Both sides are unbeaten in five with three wins and two draws but whilst United brushed past League Two strugglers Yeovil in the FA Cup on Friday, Spurs could only manage a draw against Newport from the same division. Although the Red Devils historically have a far better head-to-head record against their London rivals, Tottenham are unbeaten in five at home against the Old Trafford clubChelsea v AFC Bournemouth @745pm - in terms of form these two are both among the best in the division right now but in pretty much every other respect there are light years between them. The Cherries sensationally beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge when they joined the Premier League back in 2015 but have lost the five games since then including two matches (one in the EFL Cup) this season so it's going to be very tough for them

Bostik League North DivisionRomford v AFC Hornchurch @745pm - if you're struggling to get a ticket for either of the above, and you probably will, then this Essex derby between teams at opposite ends of the table could be a reasonable alternative
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Thursday 1 FebruaryFA Women's Super League 1Chelsea v Manchester City @7pm - get the new month underway with this massive women's game at Kingsmeadow. The two biggest and best teams in the country go head-to-head in this rearranged fixture with top spot up for grabs

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Friday 2 February

Premier League 2

Fulham v Blackburn Rovers @7pm - the Cottagers welcome PL2 Division 2 leaders Blackburn to Mostpur Park for what could be a very interesting U23 game

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Saturday 3 FebruaryPremier League

Arsenal v Everton @530pm - I think I'm right in saying that these are the two longest serving clubs in the top flight with neither having suffered a relegation for decades - in Arsenal's case since 1919. Sadly, neither have won the league title for a long time and neither are going to get anywhere near this year. For the Gunners, a place in the top four is still achievable while survival is still the priority for Sam Allardyce's team despite being in ninth - a home win should be the order of the day

Championship

Fulham v Nottingham Forest @3pm - the team from SW6 recorded their fourth win on the bounce on Saturday to finally move into the top six. The west London club are in great form at the moment and are desperately hoping to improve on their impressive performance last season which ended with a play-off defeat to Reading. Forest are in midtable and should be there for the taking but the beauty of this division is that everyone is beatableQueens Park Rangers v Barnsley @3pm - after the dismal display at Bristol City on Saturday, there will be huge pressure on Rangers to win this game. Barnsley at home is usually a banker for QPR - they've won the last 10 and the current Tykes side aren't particularly special but all runs have to end at some point...

League OneCharlton Athletic v Oxford United @3pm - the Addicks finally surrendered their place in the top six to Rotherham during the week and failed to take it back as their game at Blackpool got postponed on Saturday. With three wins in a row, they're still in good form and an Oxford side with three defeats in five look vulnerable

FA Trophy Third RoundWealdstone v Warrington Town @3pm - aside from the top division of the National League, all non-league teams play in regionalised leagues so when they enter national cup competitions like this one it often leads to some unusual match-ups. I could be wrong but I doubt these two have ever played before. The Stones won the competition back in 1985 and enjoyed a great run to the semi-finals in 2012. The Wire hail from Cheshire and are one of the top clubs playing at the level below Wealdstone. If they win this last-16 tie it will equal their best ever performance in the FA Trophy

Bostik League Premier DivisionDulwich Hamlet v Metropolitan Police @3pm - the hosts saw their game at Leatherhead postponed on Saturday and their lead at the top cut to just two points as nearest rivals Billericay thrashed struggling Tooting 6-2 at Imperial Fields. Given that the Blues still have seven games in hand, Dulwich's time at the top will soon be over. If they are to keep themselves in with a chance then they've got to get back to winning ways soon but in Met Police they face another top six side. Having lost their last two home games to Merstham and Wingate & Finchley, it could be another tough afternoon

Bostik League South DivisionThamesmead Town v Lewes @3pm - after winning last weekend's top of the table clash against Cray, Lewes have managed to stay just ahead of their south-east London rivals. After nicking a late draw against Walton Casuals on Saturday, the Rooks are now two points clear and can't really afford any slip ups if they're to stay out of the play-off places. Thamesmead are ticking over nicely enough in midtable with their recent games producing loads of goals (there have been 24 in their last five matches) and the reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw

Southern Counties East League Division 1Fisher v K Sports @3pm - currently third, the Fish are London's main challengers in this division and will hope to return to the ninth tier as soon as possible. K Sports are currently top and will provide a stern test for the Rotherhithe club

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Sunday 4 FebruaryPremier LeagueCrystal Palace v Newcastle United @215pm - the Magpies are set to spend their second Sunday in a row in London following this weekend's FA Cup defeat at Chelsea. Now both out of the nation's premier cup competition, both sides can concentrate on the more important task of securing top-flight survival. Newcastle sneaked a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture shortly after Roy Hodgson's arrival at Palace in October. Consequently I think they'll find the current Eagles side much improved and could struggleWomen's FA Cup Fourth RoundLondon Bees v Chelsea @2pm - we're now down to the last 32 and the draw has thrown up this interesting London derby. The hosts play in the second tier of the women's game and will do really well to make progress as the Blues could well be the top side in the land by the time this kicks offMillwall Lionesses v Coventry United @3pm - in the other London tie there could also be a mismatch as FAWSL2 leaders Millwall host a side from the tier below

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

About Me

I'm a QPR fan and follower of Harrow Borough in the Isthmian League.
In 2010 I set up Non-League Day to help promote semi-professional and grassroots football. I'm hoping that TLFG will help provide a similar boost for football clubs around the capital.
I also worked at BBC Sport for 10 years before it relocated to Salford but decided not to go, such was my love of London.